Articulated car



Sept. 6, 1932. v. wlLLouGl-IBY ART I CULATED CAR Filed Jan. 3. 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 n. l l l I Il 'xalan/111111111 Sept; 6,

I I I I I I ARTICULATED CAR v 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Jan. 3, 1951 l I I I I I l l I l/z'cZor Wil/pay@ BY I g SePt- 6, 1932- v. wlLLouGHBY 1,876,187

ART I CULATED CAR Filed Jan. 3. 1931 4 Sheecs--Sheei'l 4 Vidar Wil/057%@ Patented Sept. 6, 1932 UNITED PATENT L -Vieron WIL-Lousiana', or Rinonwoon, JERSEY, Ass'IGNoR. iro mnmloienoimf AND FOUNDRY COMPANY, oraNnwYorex, N. yY., A ooRfPonATzoN 'or 'Y Application il'eiil ramirary -3`, 1931-. SerialV No. 506,343:

rlhis invention relates to articulatedfcars' of the :type in which a vsingle'itruckg; known in the 'art as .a pivot truck, is.arranged beneath and supports the adjacent end portions of two car bodies.v

Heretofore inthe art, anticulated'carsrhave been/constructed in a manner such-that *the*` adjacent end portionsof two car bo'diesvfaire connected toa pivot "truck by"means-ofcon nected body and truek' bearings; `the bodies bearings Carriedby the side frames-of apiv'ot truck 5l the connection- 'o the; adjacent vendv portions Loi said bodies with the truckbei'ng accomplished by means 'of ytransversetruok member Vinto which portions of the ends of Tthe car bodies are extended. This Connection of the adjacentl endv portions'oif the car bodies with :the itruck serves `oo-transmit pulling stresses'from. vthe'fbodie's fito -the truck.

One object of this inventioni's the provision of an articulated car inwhich the adjacent end portionsof twocafr bodies'are supported solely by the side frames-.fof a oa-r truck. Another object of this invention-is the pro. vision of an articulatedcaricompnising'ta pair of car bodies supported bythe side yframes of a ear truck to permit independent swiveling movement ofthe bodiesinal horizontal plane, together with mea-ns for' transmitting pull.y ing stresses dirorn the bodiesfto ythewtrnck.-

Still another `ob'j'ectfo'f this Ainvention is the provision of a cast truck for-supporting the -1 adjacent endportionsof two 'car bodieson the'side vframes o-f-saidftrucksin such la man ner that the adjacentfend yportions of said bodies may shift horizontally on A'the vside frames, the truck :and bodiesrbeifng.' provided:v

with cooperatingV elements for retaining'the bodies in their -proper'spaced relationand for preventing relative sidewise'y shifting of the bodies las well as for transmittingpullingf stresses from. the :bod-ies tothe truck.

A further object of this inventionfisfthe-pizof Visionofa newandimprovedcantruek dorf'zm articulatedfear. Y j

kThe lnventionralso contemplates thepro vision of a newfand improvedv body Center casting for 'articulated cars;

Other objects and 'advantages v=oif this' in venti-on will be apparent -vfrom the following description ta'lren yin conjunction with theV accompanying drawings in whichizf Fig. l is a top plan View lshowmgportions oi?. adjacent car bodies artioirlated 'to'- getherfas contemplated by the .present2ini ventiomsthe view havingfcertainp art'sjbroken awayyother parts shown in section, and-rstif-ll `other parts omitted to' more tally el'iisiiose the invention( F1g.,2 is a sectionalview through. tlfIe'f-'ar` view also showing=more or Jless diagram nection casting.

Fig. 5V is ra `side elevationffof 'the casting shownfin Fig. f

Fig. 8 fis -a ytop plan' View of thebody 'Z is a' front 'view of the eastingishowmf 'in-Figi'. f.

ticulatedf joint 'of the present rin-vention', the:

nection. casting for one'of the' c'arrbodiesthe casting being :a companion-.casting towthut shown in Figs. 4 to- 7, inclusive Fig.;l 9 is a `side#elevati-on. ottheffeastinga.

vsl-ro-wn-inl Fig. S.

Fig; vL@ -iswa sectionalview' onftheline Fig. 1l is a front View of the casting shown in: Fig. 8.-

truck :forming a part of the invention.

nels 2 and a top cover plate 5.

ltion 24.

Fig. 14 is a sectional view on the line 14-14, Fig. 12.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings in which similar characters of reference designate similar parts in the several views, the present invention is adapted to provide for articulating two car bodies, theA end portion of one of which is shown fragmentarily in Fig. 1 at A. The specific construction of the car bodies forms no part of the 'present invention and hence is not shown in detail, other than those parts necessary to an understanding of this invention. As is usual, the bodies are provided with underframes which include center sills; the latter, in the present instance comprising spaced channels 2. Adjacent each end of the bodies the underframe comprises an end cross bearer including a transverse plat-e member 4 secured to and extending between the side sills 6 (see Fig. 3) and passing under the center sill.. The cross bearer also includes the spacedl diaphragm 7 connected to and extending between the side sills 6 and the chan- Secured to the lower surfaces of the plate members 4 intermediate the channels 2 and side sills 6 are wear plates 8.

The adjacent end portions of the bodies are supported directly by a single truck indicated generally at B arranged therebeneath, the specific construction of which will be presently described. The truck frame of the presentinvention is in edect, a single unit comprising a casting having side frames 10 connected together at their ends by truck end sills 12. The side frames are tubular and comprise top, bottom and side walls 14, 16 and 18 respectively.

Arranged intermediate the end sills 12 of the truck frame is a transverse truck member indicated generally in Fig. 12 at C having an aperture 2O which is substantially midway between the end sills 12 and the side frames 10.

- The truck member C, as shown in the drawings is cast vintegral with the remainder of the truck frame, though obviously it may be formed of independent elements attached to the side frames 10 if desired. In the pres- '1 ent instance, the member C comprises oppoyclearly in Fig. 3 the bars 22 are formed with and extend from the inner side walls 18 of the respective side frames and the ends remotev from the side frames are upwardly oifset as at 26 where they merge with the bearing porfree Sie@ frames 1o are provided with spaced openings 28 in their top walls 14 arranged adjacent the bars 22 and through which springs 80 may be inserted to rest in of the bottom walls 16 of the side frames, as shown clearly in Figs. 2, 13 and 14; the springs having spring slips 34 which supp'ort follower blocks 36 arranged in and guided by the openings 28 and having side bearing cages 37 secured thereto which support side bearing elements 38 illustrated in the drawings as rollers. The side bearings are so positioned as to receive and support the adjacent end portions of the car bodies at all times, the wear plates 8 resting on said roll ers as clearly shown in Fig. 8. From the description just above it will be apparent that each car body rests upon and is supported by side bearing members carried by the side frames of the car truck B, the springs providing the necessary resiliency to obtain proper mounting and operation of the car bodies.

The truck B forms a part of the present invention and, as before mentioned, is a single unit, the same being an integral casting which includes the side frames 10, end sills 12 and, as shown in Figs. 2 and 13, also includes the integral pedestals 40 which receive journal boxes of any suitable type, indicated at 42.

The bodies are connected to the truck to transmit pulling stresses thereto and to prevent relative sidewise and vertical shifting, and now referring to Figs. 1, 2 and 3 it can be seen that the adjacent end portions of the bodies are each connected to the truck through the transverse member C, the end portions each khaving connection castings D arranged between and secured to the channels 2 and bef ing arranged so that the forward ends of said castings will substantially abut each other whereby to transmit bufting shocks from one car body to the other; this abutting relation of the castings -being clearly indicated in Figs. 1 and 2.

The two castings for the adjacent end portions of the car bodies are quite similar in form and may be termed companion castings. Each of the castings comprises a body portion 44 which is hollow and reinforced by stiftening ribs 45 and said castings each rest upon the plate members 4 of the respective car body underframes (see Fig. 2). Each casting is provided with a front wall shown at 46 which tapers from each side of the casting toward the longitudinal center thereof to define a centrally arranged buffing area 48, the areas 48 on adjacent castings being arranged very close together when the bodies are assembled whereby butfing shocks are transmitted between the bodies. To furnish adequate strength to resist bufting shocks, and also to provide a casting through which pulling stresses may be transmitted from the bodies to the truck, the forward ends of the castings are thickenedas shown clearly in Figs. 2, 6'

and 10. The respective castings are companions and., when the bodies are assembled are interengaged to `prevent relative vertical shifting of the bed-ics Yand to :transmit excessiveload trom onebody tofthe other-andthen J the-truclr,.and .t0 accomplish this, one casting is provided witha horizontallyarranged shelf. or anticlimber member 50 adapted to venter a corresponding groove or recess 52 in the adjacent casting.

Depending from t-he forward end of eachV cast-ing and exten-ding into the aperture 2O .of

Ythe transverse member C isla projection indicated at 54'the rear walls of said projections being curved to conform to the cylindrical wall of the aperture.

From the above description it is believedl i ,that the construction of the car of the pres-A ent invention will be fully apparent to thosey ings D are arcuate in order to provide clear ance for swiveling. bv-iously a sufficient amount of clearance is necessary between the projections 54 and the bearing portion 24 to permit the car bodies to pass over breaks in ,trackgra-des and this car has been designedto provide such clearance. Y f

The carbodies are directly and solely supported by side bearings which are resi-lientlx7 mounted by means of theiiollowers 36 on the Vsprings 30, and itwillbe apparent that relative movements of the carbodies inopposition to the springs 3-0 will be permitted to a certain extent .and yet the bodies will be maintained.

in substantially their proper positions asthe `tendency of the springs 30 is to maintain the respective car ybody end portions in a. liori- Zontal plane. v

It will be apparent that relativevsidewise shiitingof .the car bodies is prevented by the engagement of the. projections 54 with the bearing 24 and that relative vertical shifting is prevented by the interengagement oi the castings D due to the connected tongue and groovesO and 52 respectively. By the prevention o1c relative vertical and sidewise shifting it is not to be inferred that an absolute elimination of relative shifting between the bodies is effected-because obviously a certain amount of shifting is necessary to provide an operative construction which will include the necessary ieXibility of the respective parts and the parts heretofore described prevent excessive relativesidewise and verticalshifting but permit the necessary amount g .of such shifting.

An important feature ofthe present invention is the manner in which loads are'transferredt-rom the bodies to the truck,` The .carl bodies aredesignedas side carrying struc- '\tu res.. Infthe usuallconstruction ofarticu-A lated car, load is carried from `a point Vsubstantiallymidway'between the side sills of ya car body then to a point between the side frames ofthe .truck and finally -to the side frames of- ;the truck. In other words load passes from the' car intol a bolster or yother parent. In the usual construction having a center Lplateand .two side bearings the center plate carries the load. However, some of the veiitical'loadis also carried on the usual side. bearings :provided in the usual type of articulated car;y thishappening particu-larlywhen a. car is `passing around a curve. It is valso customary to provide a small amount of space between the car body under-frame and the truck sidebearings with the result that any swaying of the carV .causes a hammering actien between these two elements. This is eliminated in the design of the present invention, becausethe body and truck side bearings arealways in contactandtherefore thearticulated car of the present invention will provide smoother riding than those of the prior art. f I

As can Ibe seen in Fig. 1,-the car bodies swivel about a point which isthe central point of they articulation; this central peintv being, substantially the-center of the aperture 2O in the transverse member C. f e

The drawings herein illustrate oneembodiment of the presen-t invention but it is to beV understood that they are for illustrative purposes only and various changes in the `form and proportions vof the construction may be made with-in thescope of the yappended claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.v

What is claimed'is:

l. In `an articulated car, a truck, a pair of' car bodies having their acent end portions supported wholly by the truck side frames and means for transmitting pulling .stresses from the bodiesV to the truck comprising a `tubular bea-ring portion supported by the,

truck an-,darran'ged substantially midway betweenthe sidefraines and end sills and with which the adjacent end portions of the bodies f f are engaged.

2. In an articulated Vcar-` a truck,l a pair of car bodies having their adjacent end'portions supported wholly by the truck side trames and mean-s for transmitting pulling stresses from the bodies to the truck` comprising-a tux-- bular bearin-gportion supported by the truuk the side frames and end sills and with which `the adj acent endportions of the'bodies areenw.

yand arranged substantiallyy midway between;

said rigid member for transmitting pulling gaged, said bearing portion deiining the center of swiveling movement of the bodies.

3. ln an articulated car, a truck having a substantially centrally arranged stationary tubular bearing element, a pair of car bodies having their adjacent end portions arranged over lthe truck and supported wholly by the truck side frames and capable oi horizontally shitting relative to the truck, and means exthe said adjacent end portions.

ll. ln an articulated car, a pair or" carbodies and a truck for supporting theadjacent end portion of said car bodies comprising end sills, side frames, and a transversely arranged truck member extending between and rigidly connected to said side trames, said member having a tubular bearing portion arranged substantially midway between the end sills and side trames and with which the said adjacent end portions oi the bodies are connected tor pivotal movement.

5. ln an articulated car, a truck including side frames and having an integral rigid member extending between and connected to the side trames, a pair of car bodies having adjacent end portions extended over the truck and wholly supported by the truck side `trames and means depending from the adjacent ends o't said bodies engaged in the stresses from the bodies to the truck.

6. in an articulated car, a truck, a bearing portion supported by the truck and arranged substantially midway between the side trames and end sills of the truck, a pair of car bodies extended over the truck, resiliently mounted bearing elements carried by the truck side frames and on which the bodies are supported for horizontal shifting, and means extending from the adjacent end portions of the bodies engaged in said bearing portion itor transmitting pulling stresses :trom the bodies'to the truck.

7. In an articulated car, a truck, a bearing portion supported by the truck and arranged substantially midway between the side frames and end sills of the truck, a pair oi car bodies extended over the truck, resiliently mounted bearing elements carried by the truck side frames and on which the bodies are supported for horizontal shifting, and means` extending from the adjacent end portions of the bodies engaged in said bearing portion for transmitting pulling stresses from the bodies to the truck and for preventing excessive relative sidewise shitting oi the bodies.

8. In an articulated car, a truck, a pair of car bodies having adjacent end portions extended over the truck and resiliently supported by the truck side frames, said adjacent end portions being interengaged whereby to transmit buiiing shocks from one body to the other and for preventing excessive relative vertical shifting of the bodies, and means depending from the adjacent end portions of said bodies engaged with a truck part for transmitting pulling stresses from the bodies to the truck and from one body to the other, said means deiini-ng the center of horizontal swiveling of the adjacent end portions of said bodies.

9. In an articulated car, a truck having re` siliently mounted supporting elements carried by the truck side frames, a pair ot car bodies having adjacent end portions arranged over the truck and supported on said supporting elements and adapted to shift horizontally relative to the truck, a transverse truck member, and center castings at the adjacent end portions of said bodies arranged in substantially abutting relation and extended into a truck part for transmitting pulling stresses from the bodies to the truck.

l0. in an articulated car, a truck having resiliently mounted supporting elements carried by the truck side trames, a pair of car bodies having adjacent end portions arranged over the truck and supported on said supporting elements and adapted to shi'tt horizontally relative to the truck, a transverse truck member, and center castings at the adjacent end portions of said bodies extended into a truck part for transmitting pulling stresses from the bodies to the truck.

ll. In an articulated car, a truck, a pair of car bodies having their adjacent end portions arranged over the truck and resiliently carried by the truck side frames, a transverse truck member, a bearing portion Jformed with said transverse member and arranged substantially midway between the truck side frames and end sills, center castings secured to the adjacent end portions of the bodies arranged in interengaged relation to transmit buiiing shocks from one body to the other and to prevent excessive relative vertical shifting oit' the bodies, said castings extending into the transverse truck member whereby pulling stresses are transmitted from the bodies to the truck.

12. In a railway car truck, side frames, end sills, spaced car body supporting elements resiliently supported by the side frames, and a rigid truck member extendingv between and connected to the side trames, said member having a tubular bearing portion arranged substantially midway between the side trames and end sills.

13. ln an articulated car, a truck, a transverse truck member, a pair of car bodies having adjacent end portions supported for horizontal swiveling movement on the truck side trames, and center castings at the adjacent end portions of the bodies extended into the transverse truck member and defining the center of swiveling movement of the bodies.

14. In an articulated car, a truck, a pair of car bodies having their adjacent end portions resting upon and supported wholly by the truck side frames and capable of horizontal swiveling movement thereon, a transverse truck member extending between the side frames, a bearing portion forming a part of said transverse truck member, and interengaged center castings extending from the adjacent end portions of the bodies and engaged with said bearing portion fortransmitting pulling stresses from the bodies to the truck and from one body to the other and for preventing excessive relative sidewise shifting of the bodies.

15. In an articulated car, a pair of car bodies and a truck for supporting the end portions of said car bodies comprising end sills, side frames, and a transversely arrangedV truck member extending between and rigidly connected to said side frames andprovided with a tubular bearing portion arranged substantially midway between the end sills and side frames, said bearing portion constituting a pivotal axis, and means on the adjacent end portions of the bodies engaged in said bearing portion to connect the bodies and truck for swiveling movement on said axis.

In witness whereof Iv have hereunto set my hand. VICTOR WILLOUGHBY. 

